Fence-clamp.



J. C. MAHAN.

FENCE CLAMP.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 9, 1913.

1,097,454. Patented May 19, 1914.

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JAMES C. MAHAN, OE LINCQLN,

FENCE-CLA1VIR To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES C. lVlAHAN, a cltlzen of the United States, residing at Lincoln. in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful IUIPIOVGDICHtS in Fencc Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to an improvement in fence clamps and particularly to a clamp which may be readily and easily secured to a fence as an entirety and grip each individual wire thereof passing through the clamp in an even, secure manner, to insure a positive grip of the clamp on the fence to permit any of the desired opera tions for which the clamp is adapted.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a fence clam} made up of separable member: and cooperating with fastening means whereby the clamp may be readily and conveniently secured at any point in the fence structure and may be simply and easily tightened in place, the formation of the clamp insuring a positive grip of the wire sections while at the same time permitting a release of one or more fence cables at a time without interfering with the firm grip on the remainder of the cables.

The invention in its preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had to the ac eompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the improved clamp in place on a fence section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the respective parts of the clamp showing the same in separated relation. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a view of the locking bolt detached. Fig. 5 is a face view of the clamp plate.

The improved fence clamp comprises members 1 and 2 having that length, width and thickness best adapted for the use for which the particular clamp is designed, it being understood that in this connection I contemplate forming the clamps of any material and of any size and shape. The member 1 comprises a rectangular bar formed at appropriate intervals with key-hole openings 3 extending therethrough. On the inner or clamping face of the bar is arranged a clamping strip 4-, said strip being formed with openings to conform to and register with the openings 3 in the bar and being secured to the flat face of the bar so that the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 9, 191.3.

Patented May 19, 1914. Se1'1'a1N0.778,197.

full thickness of the strip projects beyond the surface of the bar, as will be plainly evident from Fig. 3 of the drawing. T he member 2 of the clamp comprises a bar similar to the bar 1 in size and shape and formed with openings 5 therein for the reception of bolts. The openings 5 are prefe'ably of slightly less diameter from their midlengths to the outer face of the bar 2 than from such mid-lengths to the inner face. On the inner or clamp face of the bar 2 are arranged longitudinally disposed steel ribs 6, so spaced apart longitudinally of the bar 2 that when the bars 1 and 2 are in clan1ping relation the clamp plate 41: will fit loosely between the ribs 6, and the ribs and clamp plate projecting approximacly equal distances beyond the surfaces of the respective bars to which they are attached.

Cam plates '7 are secured upon the out-er face of the bar 1, said cam plates being preferably arranged within depressions or recesses formed in the face of said bar. 'l. he cam plates are circular in plan and are formed with a bead or enlargement 8 to cooperate with and limit the movement of the wing head of the locking bolt to be later described, said cam plates being also formed with a key-hole opening 9, to conform and register with the openings 3 in the bar when said plates are in position. lhe surface of each cam plate is formed with a cam sur face 10 arranged concentric with the enlargement of the key-hole opening 9 and having its lowest point at one edge of the key-hole opening beyond the projection and its highest point adjacent the opposing wall of the projection. The locking bolts 11 are arranged to be passed through the openings 5 in the bar 2 said bolts being threaded for a considerable length at one end and formed at the opposite end with heads 12 including a single regulating wing, the

transverse section through the headed ends of the bolts conform in size and shape to the openings 3 and 9 respectively. The unthreaded portions of the bolts have a diameter corresponding to the maximum diameter of the holes 5, so that when said bolts are in place they can not be pushed through the bar 1 from the inner side of said bar. By this arrangement the bolts are prevented from being accidentally pushed through the bar 2 in the application of the bar 1 to said bar 2 in the application of the clamp.

In the use of the clamp the respective bars are applied on the opposite sides of the fence structure, the wing head of each bolt 11 being passed through the appropriate opening in the bar 2. In this position the respective wing heads overlie the adjacent cam plates, and on being turned, said heads cooperate with the cam surfaces of said plates, with the obvious efiect of clamping or forcing the bars 1 and 2 together. After such initial securing, nuts 13 which are se cured upon the threaded ends of the bolts beyond the outer face of the bar and protected from movement in the returning of the bolts through the wing heads by the washers 1d, may be furthertightened to more effectively clamp the bars together, though in most instances it will be found that the movement of the wing heads as described is sufficient for the clamping operation.

When the bars 1 and 2 are in clamping cooperation it will be understood that the cross wires of the fence are bound between the edges of the clamping plate 1 and the clamp ribs 6, thereby forming ofisets in said cross wires which will positively secure the clamp in applied position, and prevent possibility of its slipping in the subsequent operations to which the clamp may be subjected.

As previously stated the fence clamp may be made in any appropriate size, and while I prefer that the bars 1 and 2 be constructed of wood for convenience in handling it is obvious that they may be made entirely of metal, in which event the plate 4 and the ribs 6 will be preferably integral with such bars.

I contemplate the use of the nuts 13 as an additional clamping means, if such is desir able and necessary in the particular instance, it being understood that the initial set of the clamp for usual operation is secured through the cooperation of the bolt wing heads and the cam surfaces of the cam plates.

lVhat is claimed as new is 1. A fence clamp including bars, said bars being formed with registering openings, the opening of one bar being in part reduced in diameter, bolts rotatably mounted in said openings, each of the bolts having reduced portions to fit reduced portion of the opening, said reduced portion of the bolt being threaded to project beyond the proximate surface of the bar, a nut engaging the threaded projection of the bolt, each of said bolts being formed with a wing head, and a cam surfaced plate secured on the remaining bar to receive and cooperate with the wing head of the bolt.

2. A fence clamp including bars, said bars being formed with registering open ings, the opening of one bar being in part reduced in diameter, bolts rotatably mounted in said openings, each of the bolts having reduced portions to fit reduced portion of the opening, said reduced portion of the bolt being threaded to project beyond the proximate surface of the bar, a nutengaging the threaded projection of the bolt, each of said bolts being formed with a wing head, a cam surfaced plate secured on the remaining bar to receive and cooperate with the wing head of the bolt, one of the bars on the proximate surface thereof being formed with spaced parallel ribs, and a strip carried on the proximate surface of the opposing bar, said strip having a width materially less than the distance between the ribs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J Ah IES C. MAHAN.

Witnesses:

'VV. M. CLINTON,

JAMES A. SHEFFIELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

